Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has denounced a supervised injection site advocate’s “racist tirade” against opponents of the controversial B.C. proposal.
Poilievre was responding to a video depicting an activist shouting at an Asian man who opposes the establishment of the site in Richmond, B.C.
The video, which circulated widely online, shows the activist telling the man to “go back where he came from” and asserting that he doesn’t belong in Canada.
In the clip, she specifically tells the man to go back to Hong Kong.
“Radical activist spews racist tirade against a Chinese man trying to protect kids from a drug injection site the NDP & Liberal governments are forcing into Richmond,” wrote Poilievre on X.
Poilievre’s condemnation comes amidst a heated debate surrounding the proposed supervised consumption facility in Richmond. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside City Hall Monday to express their opposition to the plan, with many holding signs bearing slogans such as “no drugs, no drugs.”
The council meeting, where over 100 speakers were scheduled to share their perspectives on the controversial proposal, was marked by passionate arguments from both supporters and opponents of the drug site.
Richmond’s city council voted 8-1 last week to explore the possibility of establishing the facility on hospital grounds, emphasizing its role in providing a safe environment for drug consumption and offering essential recovery and treatment services.
City officials have emphasized that the primary aim of the supervised injection site is to prevent overdose deaths and facilitate access to vital health and social services for individuals struggling with substance abuse.
However, segments of the community, including residents and advocacy groups, remain skeptical about the potential consequences of such a facility. Concerns about increased crime, violence, and drug-related activities in the vicinity have fueled opposition to the project.
